Looking after your mental wellbeing

It is normal to feel anxious or stressed in times of difficulty. Learn how to stay mentally healthy and where to get help if you are not coping or have concerns for others.

Staying mentally healthy

Everyone's emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel anxious or stressed in times of difficulty. However, there are lots of things you can do to feel better.

All Sorts (external link)

COVID-19 keeps throwing new challenges our way. Find support, tips and advice to help you look after your mental health on the All Sorts website.

Get through COVID-19 (external link)

The Mental Health Foundation has information about how to get through COVID-19. It includes wellbeing tips, helpful resources, and self-help tools and apps.

Groov support app (external link)

The Groov app helps you monitor, manage and improve your mental wellbeing. You can pick your own daily goals and track your progress.

Headstrong support app (external link)

Designed for and with Aotearoa's young people, Headstrong includes the Aroha chatbot ⁠— your virtual wellbeing guide.

COVID-19 and its impact (external link)

How COVID-19 can affect mental health, and ways to support yourself or other people on the Ministry of Health website.

Where to find help

Do not be afraid to seek support. There are helpline services available right now that offer support, information and help for you, your family, whānau and friends.

For support with anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Mental Health Foundation has a full list of services available.

Helplines and support (external link)

Te Whare Tapa Whā

Developed by Dr Mason Durie, Te Whare Tapa Whā speaks to the 4 cornerstones of Māori health and wellbeing. When there is an imbalance or 1 of the cornerstones is missing, we may feel unwell or out of sorts. We can use this model to help look after ourselves and those in our whānau.

This model reminds us to take care of all aspects of our lives to support our wellbeing.

The 4 cornerstones are:

  • taha tinana | physical wellbeing
  • taha hinengaro | mental wellbeing
  • taha wairua | spiritual wellbeing
  • taha whānau | family wellbeing.

Te Whare Tapa Whā | Mental Health Foundation (external link)

Staying safe online

During the COVID-19 pandemic many people are spending more time online. While the internet helps you connect with family members, friends and colleagues, there are also risks. Knowing how to stay safe online can help protect you and your whānau.

Staying safe online (external link)

Netsafe has information and resources to stay safe online. You can also report online incidents or harmful content such as misinformation or scams.

Misinformation, scams and online harm

Misinformation, scams and online harm about COVID-19 and vaccines work against us at a time when we need to work together to beat the spread of the virus.

How to report online abuse (external link)

If anyone in your whānau receives inappropriate contact online, you can make a non-emergency report to the police or call 111 for emergencies.

Report illegal content (external link)

If you find any illegal content online, you can make a complaint to the Department of Internal Affairs.

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